Man brings home late sister's dog from muddy kennel, gives it a second chance at life

A dog named Chewy is now with his late owner's sibling after being removed from an outdoor kennel where he had been living in mud with severely matted fur and was "sometimes only being checked on every few days."

The story was shared on Reddit's r/BeforeNAfterAdoption, where the poster said Chewy had lived with their sister for about seven to eight years before she died of cancer.

Here's what to know

According to the post, Chewy spent most of his time outside in a kennel, sleeping in mud. The poster said that after their sister died, his care "declined significantly," and he was "sometimes only being checked on every few days."

Removing Chewy's matted coat took more than four hours. "The amount of matted hair we removed was unbelievable, it honestly looked like enough hair to make another Chewy," the original poster wrote.

One commenter wrote: "Thank you for giving this sweet old man the soft landing he deserved." The original poster also said Chewy remembered them, played a little with the poster's kids, and eventually fell asleep on the couch from exhaustion.

More background

One commenter said that Chewy "probably is sleeping peacefully for the first time in a long time without those matts pulling on his skin and irritating him."

Another user identified themself as close to the original poster, writing, "This is my husband. Chewy was being taken care of by someone who was close to his sister. Someone we all trusted." They detailed how they thought he was only living outside for a temporary period of time, and didn't realize how much his care had declined until someone raised concerns. 

"His whole back was one big matted mess. We feel horrible, but we didn't know he was being neglected. Now he's safe and will forever be loved by our family," they added.

What can be done?

The original poster admitted, "Yes my only regret was not stepping in sooner, I just didn't realize how bad it had gotten."

The poster said, "We're going to get him to the vet soon and get him a check up."

"He's an old man now, and I don't know how many years we have left with him," the original poster wrote. "But however many he has, he's going to spend them inside, warm, clean, comfortable, with plenty of food and water and a family that loves him."

One Redditor commented, "Aww super happy to see this man, little dude looks happy and probably more comfy than he has been in a long time!"

Where can I learn more?

Chewy's story shows how the responsibility of taking care of a pet shouldn't be taken lightly, highlighting how much dogs rely on safe shelter, comfort, and consistent day-to-day care. Other stories explore that same reality from different angles, from getting more life out of a worn dog bed to avoiding household hazards that can have devastating consequences.

• On Reddit, one pet owner mended a chewed dog bed instead of tossing it out.

• A dog owner found a playful way to shred cardboard while breaking down pizza boxes at home.

• One family was left grieving after their dog swallowed a plastic bottle cap and died.

Each one speaks to the small decisions that shape a dog's safety and comfort every day. After what Chewy went through, that kind of steady attention is what matters most.

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